South Korean Marine K-55 self-propelled howitzers are seen Wednesday during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea.

Written by

Tom Vanden Brook
| USA Today

The Pentagon's deployment in the past week of its most advanced fighters, bombers and warships to counter North Korea's mounting threats has overshadowed its more gradual buildup of forces in the region.

Over the past year, the military has responded to the Obama administration's "pivot" to Asia as it withdraws troops from Afghanistan and its war in Iraq recedes into history. The rebalancing of forces addresses, in part, the rise of Chinese power in the region. Other changes were made with a clear focus on North Korea.